Lindsey Vonn Considering Skiing Comeback After Olympics Crash & Injury

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Lindsey Vonn is not interested in sticking to the bunny slopes.  

I can’t even begin to tell you how relieved I am to hear she’s recovering! After that awful crash at the Olympics, I was so worried she’d have to retire. But honestly? It sounds like it’s had the opposite effect on her! She’s actually thinking about competing again! It’s incredible – she’s just that determined. I’m already counting down the days until I can see her back on the slopes, she’s my idol!

“I didn’t have a chance to finish my last race or properly say farewell,” the 41-year-old shared with Today on April 7th. “It feels like there’s still a possibility of something more.”

She wasn’t ruling out another race, saying she might compete one last time just for the enjoyment of it. She’ll have to see how she feels, but it’s a possibility.

Lindsey Vonn hinted at a possible return to competitive skiing, jokingly telling Today’s Craig Melvin that she was considering it, “much to my family’s dismay.”

The Olympic gold medalist’s hopes for the 2026 games were dashed when she crashed during the women’s downhill final on February 8th. She cried out in pain and was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where doctors operated on her fractured left leg.

Honestly, hearing Lindsey talk on Today just broke my heart. She said she’s been feeling so incredibly isolated since the crash, like she’s trapped by the fact that her Olympic dream didn’t quite happen the way she wanted. It’s like she needs to just get out there, walk around, and live life normally to get some perspective. She doesn’t even want to think about what’s next right now, because her mind just won’t let her. I just want her to be okay and find her way back to happiness, whatever that looks like. It’s so tough to hear her struggle like this, she deserves all the good things!

The professional skier has undergone five surgeries on the leg she injured before the Olympics, where she tore her ACL.

Okay, so Vonn was talking about her recovery, and honestly, it’s terrifying! She explained just how bad things really were – she almost lost her leg! Apparently, she had this thing called compartment syndrome, and it was so severe, they were worried they wouldn’t be able to save it. I’m just blown away by how much she went through and how strong she is to be back, even after something like that!

In a video posted to Instagram on February 23rd, Vonn described a serious condition where repeated trauma caused a buildup of blood in one area of her body. This buildup squeezed everything inside – muscles, nerves, and tendons – potentially causing them to die. Thankfully, Dr. Tom Hackett was able to save her leg from amputation.

She’s been honest about how much this experience has affected her mental well-being, in addition to her physical injuries. Shortly after the crash, she posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she knew she would face some very challenging times.

She shared on February 24th that she’s grown from every setback she’s faced. Each injury has helped her become more resilient and stronger, though she admits the mental challenges can be incredibly difficult and persistent.

Vonn is recovering well from her injury and recently achieved a significant milestone: she was able to do her first pull-ups since being injured. She shared her progress online, writing, “Slowly getting there!”

Now that Vonn is thinking about competing again, here’s a look back at some of the most memorable moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics…

Figure skater Amber Glenn became emotional and cried after she didn’t land her triple loop jump during her performance in the women’s short program.

Tom Wilson of Canada scuffles with Pierre Crinon of France in a rare Olympic hockey fight.

Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was overcome with emotion after making history by winning Brazil’s first-ever gold medal at the Winter Olympics in the men’s giant slalom.

Stevenson Savart, Haiti’s first-ever Olympic cross-country skier, finished the men’s 10km race and received a standing ovation.

Spanish figure skater Tomas Guarino performs his short program dressed as a Minion, inspired by the movie Despicable Me.

A dog wanders onto the track during the women’s team cross country free sprint qualifiers.

Oh my gosh, I was totally fixated on Brad Jacobs during the game, and I noticed the most adorable thing! He was putting on lip balm, and Marc Kennedy was watching him do it! It was just… a perfect little moment, honestly. I couldn’t take my eyes off them both!

Oh my gosh, you guys, it was devastating watching Ilia Malinin – my Ilia, the Quad God himself – fall during his free skate! I seriously couldn’t believe my eyes. It was so unlike him, and it cost him, landing him way down in eighth place. I’m still reeling, honestly. He’s still the best, though, obviously!

German bobsledder Laura Nolte prepares before a training session for the monobob, a one-person bobsleigh race for women.

After the women’s snowboard halfpipe event, Korean snowboarder Gaon Choi posed for a photo with American Chloe Kim and Japan’s Mitsuki Ono. The picture was taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition phone.

Nika Egadze, a figure skater from Georgia, took a picture with Simone Biles, the most decorated Olympic gymnast ever, while at the men’s singles figure skating event.

A cameraman captured U.S. skiers Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin embracing after completing their second run in the women’s team combined slalom competition.

Biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot of France celebrated her silver medal win in the women’s 15km individual biathlon event by playing with the official mascots – plush toys named Milo and Tina – from the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

After completing the super-G race, skier Dmytro Shepiuk wrote a message of support to his Ukrainian compatriots on a sticky note.

Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto is surprised by her score in the women’s singles free skating team event.

Speedskater Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands cried tears of joy after discovering she’d broken the Olympic record in the women’s 1,000-meter race.

China’s Eileen Gu competes in the women’s freestyle slopestyle—which earned her a silver medal.

Skater Maxim Naumov of the U.S. clutches a photo of his parents, who have passed away, after his performance in the men’s singles short program.

A composite image shows off the many tricks seen in the women’s freestyle slopestyle. 

Figure skater Ekaterina Kurakova of Poland celebrated her performance with teammates, holding up a stuffed pierogi—a popular and well-loved dish considered Poland’s national food.

No, it’s Team Austria’s ski jumper Julia Muehlbacher.

Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp of Austria zoom by during the luge women’s doubles.

The figure skating team who won the gold medal took a selfie with a special Olympic Edition Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 while celebrating on the podium.

Lindsey Vonn, a U.S. skier, showed her determination while training just days after suffering an ACL tear in a crash.

Alysa Liu, representing the United States, performs a Biellmann spin during her short program in the women’s singles skating competition.

Jennifer Dodds of Team Great Britain looked very anxious while watching the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea.

Snoop Dogg,serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a practice.

Evan Bates and Madison Chock, both U.S. figure skaters and a couple in real life, seem perfectly in sync when they perform their rhythm ice dance.

Laila Edwards, the first Black woman to play hockey for the U.S. in the Olympics, competes against Sara Cajanova of the Czech Republic during their game.

It was such a heartwarming moment watching Valentino Guseli, the Australian snowboarder, share a hug with Jakub Hrones from Team Czechia after their big air qualifying runs. It really showed the amazing sportsmanship and camaraderie between the athletes – a beautiful thing to see!

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2026-04-07 22:17